Redefining Family

On this week's episode of Redefining Family Jonathan had the pleasure of speaking with  photographer, activist and artist Zak Krevitt.  Zak opens up about his teen years, what it was like coming out to his family and his  introduction to West Hollywood nightlife when he was just a teen.  He then talks about the underground scenes he has been a part of within the LGBTQ+ community and his curre...

On this very special episode of Redefining Family, Jonathan starts  by talking about his dear friend Julie, who sadly passed away. last year of cancer.  Julie was in love with EVERYTHING Golden Girls.  She went on a Golden Girls cruise and could reference countless episodes.  Jonathan then goes on to interview Stan Zimmerman, one of the original writers of Golden Girls and countless other hit show...

In this episode Jonathan gives us a peek into his life outside of "Redefining Family" and his recent travels for work.  He then discusses his love for an old HBO show called "Oz,"  which was a fictional series that took place in a male prison.  This then leads into a wonderful conversation with Rev.  Tyler Sit, who has worked as a prison chaplain, among many other things.  Tyle...

In this episode Jonathan talks about the role that religion and going to church played in his life growing up.  For the most part, going to church was a positive experience because it brought him closer to his grandmother.  However that is not that case for everyone, as some may say, religion is complicated.  Jonathan then  speaks with  podcaster, presenter and content creator Sean Szeps and they...

In this episode Jonathan talks about the shame and guilt he first felt when he realized he was gay.  However he explains that now he feels pride and joy with who he is and he explains how he does not let just one part of him define who he is.    He then speaks with Elena Joy Thurston, LGBTQ+ speaker, trainer, author and founder of the nonprofit Pride and Joy Foundation.  She talks about surviving...

In this episode, Jonathan talks about his own experiences with his family.  He then has on Raga D'Silva,  Raga is an author,  LGBTQ+ advocate and host.  Raga talks about growing up in India, her family's reaction to her coming out, living your truth and being the love you want to see in the world. ******* About Raga Raga is a  successful entrepreneur and Director of Speaking Minds (www.s...

In this episode, Jonathan starts by opening up about his own spiritual practices and a little bit about his  past experiences with religion.  Jonathan then speaks with Blair Bryant Nichols (literary talent manager, coach and consultant) about his experiences with spirituality and what it was like growing up in the Catholic Church. ******* About Blair After beginning his career representing hundred...

In this episode, Jonathan reveals some sad news about a member of his family and explores the the process of losing a loving and loyal pet.  Jonathan then speaks with Andrea Breanna, who is proudly and openly Transbian (Transgender Lesbian).  Andrea speaks on  her coming out story and the way in which her family handled it as well as what it has been like working in corporate America being Transge...

Welcome back to the second season!  This is the first episode in Season 2, where we focus on learning about what love and support looks like for a young, 23yo man, Collin Magness diagnosed with HIV in April of 2020. In addition, we also learn about the importance of asking questions rather than making assumptions.

In this episode, Jonathan closes the loop on the few stories that he shared, revealing the final straw that led to his decision of demoting 18 relatives from family status to blood relative status.  In addition, we meet Dr. Lynda Spann, a Lesbian Couple's Therapist.  Dr. Lynda tells us about her own coming out journey while also providing words of wisdom about coming out to "baby lesbian...

In this episode, Jonathan speaks further to his experience may not necessarily have been strictly due to his LGBTQ+ status.  In addition, we meet Eloise Morrison, who has recently come out about being the daughter of a gay man. She tells us about the conflict between her love for gay family members and what she learned from the Catholic church.  In addition, she decides to reveal who she is to a f...

In this episode, Jonathan speaks to the mental and verbal abuse that he endured from a former family member.  We meet another LGBTQ "Family"-abuse survivor, Hannah Dhue.  Hannah was raised in an Evangelical household in the midwest and just recently came out to her family after finally getting tired of covering her relationship of nine years. ******* About Hannah Hannah Dhue (she/her/her...

In this episode, Jonathan speaks to being physically and verbally attacked by one of his siblings with only one of the 18 former family members coming to his defense.  We then meet "Sarah" and her struggles with coming out at 13 and her journey over the course of the 15 years that followed.

In this episode, Jonathan speaks to his journey coming out to his father after getting his car stolen from a boy he met outside of a club.  We then meet Grant Keller, a Vietnam vet with a traumatic childhood, who shares about his journey to acceptance for his late gay son, who died in a car accident. About Grant Keller Grant was born in downtown Los Angeles in 1948 and grew up in Mar Vista and Ven...

In our second episode, we talk to another Black Executive who also identifies as gay, Rudy Scott.  We learn about an intersectional perspective from Rudy as an immigrant, Black, and gay male. Born Rudolph Scott, Rudy immigrated from Jamaica as a small kid and grew up in Brooklyn, NY.  Rudy talks about his strict upbringing and some of the challenges with acceptance from his blood relatives, his ex...

In our first episode, we meet Andy Sanchez, a Mexican immigrant and author, who shares about his journey and how he had to redefine his definition of family as an LGBTQ individual. About Andy Sanchez Andres, they/he is a Mexican poet, author of, This Body. He migrated to the U.S. at the age of 5 and grew up in Southern California and Las Vegas, NV. Andrés moved to Los Angeles, California 7 years a...

Finally, a podcast focused on blood relatives vs true family for LGBTQ individuals! Does your family say “I Love You” yet it feels empty? You’re not alone. I and many others in the LGBTQ+ community have faced this reality.  I’m Jonathan Wilson, and I’m excited to explore how and why we must overcome this obstacle in my new podcast Redefining Family. On the show, I spotlight stories of resilience a...